Barnaby Joyce

The Nationals Member For New England

Immediate action being taken to reduce power shocks

16 Oct 2013

Federal Member for New England Barnaby Joyce said the Coalition is taking immediate action to reduce the rising costs of electricity across New England.

“This week Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the first item of parliamentary business would be to introduce legislation to abolish the carbon tax,” Mr Joyce said.

“By scrapping the carbon tax, average families will be more than $550 better off next year alone carbon tax. Over the next six years they will be $3000 better off.”

“The carbon tax adds to the cost of living. It makes households and families pay more for electricity and gas. It costs businesses more to operate, and it makes everything in our economy more expensive.”

“The Northern Daily Leader has this week reported on an important issue affecting every single household and business in our region.”

“It is not acceptable that people in rural and regional areas should be paying more for electricity than their city counterparts.”

“I will be raising the concerns of the community with my federal colleagues in an effort to assist fast track this legislation and reduce unnecessary cost burdens on my electorate.”

“The last thing the people of New England need is a tax that puts more pressure on their living expenses.”

“Bill Shorten has said he wants the Labor party to better understand voters outside the metropolitan centres. A good first step would be for the new Labor opposition to support our government’s mandate and allow passage for this legislation to reduce living cost pressures on regional and rural New South Wales.”

The Productivity Commission earlier this year reported that average electricity price rises in recent years were largely due to network costs, inefficiencies in the industry and regulatory issues.

As a further measure to reduce the burden of power costs on families, the Coalition has announced plans to create a national energy regulator with the power to rein in electricity utilities’ spending.